Progressive release lock



May 15, 1934. w J. R N 1,958,925

PROGRESSIVE RELEASE LOCK Filed 00t.- 23, 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INYENTOR1 ////0/)? M 0/.ram

H ATTORNEY May 15, 1934.

W. J. PEARSON PROGRESSIVE RELEASE LOCK Filed Oct. 23, 1931 4Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig: 2.

,INVENTOR /4/////0m PcorJo/v. BY

ATTORNEY May 15, 1934. w. J. PEARSON PROGRESSIVE RELEASE LOCK Filed Oct.23, 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 m k W m m R 0 u 0 mwm a ,N IW K W km BM. .6 wJ ATTORNEY Patented May 15, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 9 Claims.

This invention relates to progressive release locks designed to be usedin conjunction with a parcel post machine printing mechanism, such asdisclosed in my co-pending application, Serial No. 367,106, filed May29, 1929, by William J. Pearson, entitled Parcel post weighing and stampprinting machine, designed to weigh parcel post packages, and to printparcel post stamps of the prepaid meter type; wherein it may be requiredto print a stamp bearing the name and place of original mailing, thedate, the zone number to which the package is ad-- dressed, the weightof the package in pounds, the monetary value of the stamp derived fromthe weight and the zone, a serial number, and such other words, phrases,figures, decorations and designations as it may be desired to print.This mechanism is used in conjunction with a scale, meters, printingmechanism and a paper supply, and may be motor driven and used forprinting purposes.

This machine is particularly adapted for the printing of parcel poststamps upon a paper strip which, when out to the proper stamp length, isdelivered from the machine, and, being gummed on the reverse side, maybe moistened at the delivery point of the machine and in this conditionattached to the package to be mailed. There may be printed a duplicatestamp which may be wound upon a spindle within the machine, or cut tostamp length and delivered with the original stamp.

This machine also provides a novel method of setting up within a machinethe mechanical equivalent of a set of numbers put into the machine by anoperator by actuation of the keys of the keyboard. In the form of themechanism herein disclosed, the method of setting up a series of typewheels within the machine includes the requirement that a definitenumber of key actuations be effected on the keyboard to prepare themachine for a printing operation, whereupon, by means of a control keyand the connected motor drive the printing operation may be performed,following which the machine may be cleared and prepared for the nextoperation. In the form of the machine disclosed there are six numeralsto be printed, therefore, one or more keys on the keyboard must beoperated to effect a total of six key-actuations before the progressiverelease lock will be fully operated to allow the printing mechanism tofunction. Thus it is impossible to print a stamp until the requirednumber of key-actuations has been accomplished, thus reducing to aminimum the possibility of printing incorrect or mutilated stamps, andthe consequent registering of incorrect amounts within the meters of themachine.

This machine includes a registering re-set meter, and a meter actuatingmechanism which is set up by the keyboard with the mechanical equivalentof the numbers punched in by means of the keys of the keyboard, and anumeral printing mechanism which is also operated from the keyboard toset up the numbers punched in on the keys. This keyboard comprises tenkeys from to 9 inclusive, with the addition of a control key for theoperation of the clutch on the power drive, and an error key forclearing the machine. I have provided mechanism whereby the numberspunched in on the keyboard will be successively transmitted bymechanical movement to the printing and metering elements, thusproviding a means to set up six different printing numeral wheels withfigures from 0 to 9 with only a single bank of ten keys.

An object of my invention is to provide a mechanism whereby a multipleof numbers may be set up in a machine by means of a keyboard comprisingonly a single bank of ten keys, one or more of these keys being operatedrepeatedly or successively and in the order which they will assume whenprinted, and an extension of the same mechanism also transferring themechanical equivalents of the same numbers to a meter actuatingmechanism, which is operated to actuate the meters to register thenumbers at the time that a printing operation takes place in themachine; subsequently the machine is cleared of the numerical set-up andprepared for the next operation, with such parts as need to be set foroperation re-set in the position necessary for such operation; thisincludes the selector elements, which transmit the movement originatingat the keyboard to the numeral printer and the meter set-up mechanism bysuccessive positions and contacts, making one movement transversely ofthe travel of the original movement upon the depression of each key orthe performance of each key-actuation on the keyboard; also theprogressive release lock, which must be set for original position, thatit may be rotated one position for each key-actuation on the keyboarduntil the number of key-actuations corresponding to the number ofnumerals to be printed have been operated, which, in the machinedisclosed is six; whereupon the locking element adjacent the powerclutch is released and the machine may be operated for printingpurposes; but should less than siX or more than six key-actuations beefiected, the lock is not released and the machine must be cleared andthe numerals correctly punched in the machine.

An object of my invention is to provide a means for conducting multipleoperations from one source in an orderly and regular manner,

initiated at the single source intheir relation.

to the ultimate operation of the machine.

An object of my invention is to provide a COD:

trol element in the form of a locking mechanism, acting against a clutchreleasing member, and which is progressively advanced from an originalposition by the action of the keys of the keyboard when operated, to aposition whereby the lock is released from contact with the clutchreleasing member.

An object of my invention is to provide means whereby the printingelements of the machine may remain inoperative until the proper numberof keys has been actuated on the keyboard or until the proper number ofkey-actuations has taken place, thus preventing the printing of anincorrect stamp and the consequent registering of an incorrect amount inthe meter.

An object of my invention is to provide a progressive release lock'whichmay be re-set to an original position either automatically at thecompletion of a printing operation, or at any point in its operation atthe will of the operator. An object of my invention is to provide acontrol element governingthe printing operations of a parcel postmachine, comprising a progres. sive release lock, which, when properlyacted upon the'correctnumber of times by the keyboard, when it isoperated for setting up a separcel post machine for printingpurposes'and particularly the relation between the printing mechanismand the keyboard, wherein it is required that a predetermined number ofkeyactuations be effected on the keyboard before the control means willbe operated to present an operative relation between the connectingparts of the machine for printing purposes; to that end I have provideda rotating member incorporated into the progressive release lock whichis rotated step by step at successive operations of the same ordifferent keys on the keyboard, which has contact members so disposedthat the progressive rotation of this member will operate to release thepower clutch only upon a predetermined number of steps or stepmovementsof the rotating member having been actuated by the keyboard, and whichis so constructed wherein should a greater number of steps be actuatedby the keyboard than is required a align the mechanism for releasingpurposes, the additional step beyond the number required functions toreturn the mechanism to a relation wherein the releasing member is againin restraining position and thereupon the machine becomes inoperativefor printing purposes.

Another object of my invention is to provide means for re-positioning orre-setting the progressive release lock to a starting position whereinthe operations of the progressive re-' lease lock' to functioningposition by the step by step movement will coincide step by step withthe operations upon the keys of the keyboard; to that end I haveprovided a re-setting mechanism attached to and operated by there-setting mechanism of a parcel post machine. The re-setting operationof the progressive release lock may be actuated by an operator throughthe error key provided on the keyboard; normally if the set-up has beencorrect and the machine functions properly for a printing operation, there-setting operation will be taken care of automatically at thecompletion of the printing operation.

To the above and other objects my invention consists of the novelconstruction, arrangement and combination of parts as hereinafter fully,clearly and concisely described and definitely pointed out in my claimsand illustrated by the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a planview of the front right-hand portion of a parcel post machine in whichis included the various elements which have a direct bearing upon theoperation of the release lock, the mechanism of which is disclosed inthe upper left-hand corner of this figure.

Fig. 2 is a view in elevation from the left of the portion of the parcelpost machine disclosed in Fig. 1, taken approximately on line 22 in Fi1.

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view in plan of the progressive release lockingmechanism andits connected parts only, the balance of the parcel postmachine shown in Fig. 1 being eliminated to clarify the description ofthe operation of the progressive release lock; this figure is similar toFig. 1 in the disclosure of the progressive release lock and itsconnected parts.

Fig. 4 is a view in elevation from the left lllil similar to Fig. 2,showing diagrammatically the progressive'relea'se lock and its connectedparts.

Fig. 5 is an elevation partly in section from the left of the re-settingelement of the lock, taken approximately on line 5-5 in Fig. 1.

'Fig. 6 is an elevation partly in section of the progressive releaseelement as taken from the left on line 66 in Fig. l.

The drawings show a keyboard A having connected thereto a series of keybars 33 which extend toward the rear of the machine and are attached tothe various operative members of the machine for transmitting movementinitiated in the keyboard A to other parts of the machine, (not shown),which include a numeral printer, a registering meter, a control meter C,and a meter set-up actuating mechanism D. A selector unit E progressivecontacts elements contained in the numeral printer, (not shown), for thepurpose of setting up within the machine mechanical equivalents of thenumbers punched in on the keyboard A.

After the proper set-up has been made in the machine the printingoperation is instituted separately and manually, by means of the controlkey 10 on the keyboard A; this control key operates the power clutch Fwhich is also controlled by progressive release lock G; the

progressive release lock G is actuated in its progressive movement uponactuation of keys in the keyboard through contact with the butterflylever unit H, the relation of which to the key bars B is bestillustrated in Fig. 3; the actual locking and releasing mechanism isshown at J on both Figs. 1 and 3; the re-setting mechanism of the parcelpost machine is represented on these figures by the rock shaft 12.

The actuation of the progressive release lock G is instituted by theoperation of the keyboard A wherein each one of the keys, as depressed,operates its corresponding key bar B; and as these key bars have avertical movement and are normally at their upper position, theiractuation depresses them and they contact a butterfly lever 13, which istransverse of the path of all of the key bars B; butterfly lever 13 issecured to shaft 14, rockably mounted in supports 15 and secured at oneend to a rocking lever 16 provided with a bifurcated portion 17 to whichis attached, by means of the pin 18, one end of a connecting link 19;the link 19 is attached at its other end to a rocking arm 20, within abifurcated portion. 21, by means of the pin 22; this arm 20 is securedto a rock shaft 23 to which is also secured a rock arm 24 having abifurcated portion 25 within which is secured, by means of a pin 26, aconnecting link 27 attached at its other end, by means of a pin 28, toan arm 29 rockably mounted on shaft 30; the pin 28 has rockably mountedon it a pawl 31 tensioned by a spring (not shown) and adapted to engageteeth 32 of a ratchet wheel 33, thereby providing means to rotate theratchet wheel 33 one tooth step at a time upon the actuation of one ofthe keys in the keyboard A. For the purpose of preventing inadvertentreversing of the ratchet wheel 33, I have provided a ratchet dog 34tensioned by a spring (not shown) and mounted in support 35.

The shaft 30 is rotatably mounted in bearing supports 36 and has securedto it the driven member of the re-setting portion of the progressiverelease lock, comprising an internal ratchet wheel 37, provided withinternal teeth against which operate pawls 38; the pawls 38 are rockablymounted on one face of a driving member 39, which is rotatably mountedupon the shaft 30 and provided with an attached pinion 40 engaging rackteeth 41 of the rack bar 42. This rack bar is secured by pin 43 to 44,which in turn is secured to the error rock shaft 12.

The ratchet wheel 33 has on one face a pair of diametricallyopposed pins45 and 46. Upon rotation of the ratchet wheel 33, the pins engage a lockbar 47. One end of lock bar 47 is secured to locking bolt 49 adapted toengage a clutch releasing member 50 (Figs. 1 and 2) which engages andoperates the trip 51; the trip 51 is adapted to engage a pin 52 which isa part of the clutch-operating mechanism 53 of the clutch F. The lockbar 47 is tensioned against one or the other of the pins 45 and 46 bymeans of the spring 54; the progressive release lock actuating mechanismcomprising the elements disclosed at H and their parts connected to thepawl 31 are tensioned to return, after an actuating movement by means ofone of the key bars B, by the tension spring 55; the trip 51 and itsconnected parts are tensioned toward engaging position by means of thespring 56.

The error rock shaft 12 may be operated by a manual operation of theerror key 57. The

error key 57 is connected with key bar 58, which bar contacts the roller59 mounted on rocking arm 66 secured to a shaft 61 mounted at both endsin supports 62. A rocking arm 63 is secured to the shaft 61. A link 65is secured by pin 64 to the arm 63 and by pin 66 to arm 67 mounted onshaft 12. Upon actuation of the key 57 of the keyboard A the error rockshaft 12 is rocked, thus instituting a clearing action within themachine.

In Fig. 6, a series of positions assumed by the pin 45 during movementof the ratchet wheel 33 are indicated by dotted lines. The positionshown in full line for the pin 45 may be termed the initial position,the dotted position 68 the second position, and the following dottedcircles the succeeding positions, the position 69 being where the pinfirst contacts with the locking arm 47; when the pin is at the position70, the locking arm will have been moved to the dotted line position 71,whereupon the lock 49 will have moved the trip arm 51 out of engagementwith the pin 52, thus leaving the clutch ready for operation. Theclearing operation of the machine operates through the rock shaft 12 andits connecting rack bar 42 to the pinion 40, which revolves the disc 39carrying the pawls 38; the pawls 38 are adapted to engage internalratchet teeth 72 at whatever position they may be at the time of theclearing operation; upon their engagement with the teeth 72 the drivenmember 37 will be rotated to an original position indicated by thebroken lines 73, which represents the completion of the movement forresetting. In view of the fact that the driven member 37 and the ratchetwheel 33 are secured to the shaft 36 the rotation of member 37 rotatesthe ratchet wheel 3 an equivalent amount, corresponding to the positionat which the driven member 37 was resting when the pawls 38 were rotatedand engaged the teeth 72, thereby rotating the driven member 37 to itsnormal position.

In the description of Fig. 6, the completion of the operation iseffected by completion of the movement of rock arm and rack bar 42, bywhich ratchet wheel 33 is rotated one more notch to bring the pin 45 tothe position formerly occupied by the pin 46. Pin 45 will have passedbeyond the point of contact with locking arm 47, thus allowing arm 47,under tension of the spring 54, to return to the original position shownin solid lines in Fig. 6.

Should the clearing action be instituted to take place at some pointother than where either the pin 45 or the pin 46 will be in the positionshown at 70, the pawls 38 will automaticaliy engage the teeth 72 atwhatever position they happen to be occupying and rotate the drivenmember 37 to the original position;

this rotation will rotate both of the pins 45, 46 to their originalpositions, shown in solid lines in Fig. 6. As an illustration, assumethat one key of the keyboard has been operated, and that the operatorfinds he has made an error; assume also that the pin 45 was originallyin full line position. shown in 6, from which point one key-actuationhas rotated that pin one notch to the position indicated at 63;therefore, upon the error key 57 bein actuated c, the operator, thepawls 38, as shown in Fig. 5, will be rotated and engage the teeth 72,rotate the driven member 37, and thereupon rotate the ratchet wheel 33,so that the pin which happens to be in the position 68, will be rotatedto the position shown now as occupied by the pin 46 in Fig. 6, thusrestoring this mechanism to original functioning position. The pawls 38automatically return to their starting position upon the return movementof rack bar 42 and rock shaft 12 when error key 57 is released.

In View of the fact that the movement of the parts of the re-settingmechanism is of necessity very rapid, I have provided a brake re bearingagainst the periphery of the driven member 37, which has two positioningnotch s into which the brake seats at the completion of each operationof re-setting; positioning means for the rack bar i2 are provided by aroller 76 mounted in the frame 35 and bearing against the rack bar 42 tocause it to mesh properly with the pinion 40.

For the purpose of more clearly describing the portions of the parcelpost machine illustrated in the drawings it will be seen that thecontrol key 10 in the keyboard A has a connecting means comprisingparts'77, 77a and 7719 by which it is connected to the latch 78 which itreleases from t.e pin 52 for the purpose of releasing the power clutch 1provided that the trip 51 has previously been properly operated torelease the pin 52 for this operation. power clutch F operates in such amanner that the release of the pin 52 allows the pin 79 on thspring-tensioned sliding clutch-operating mechanism 53 to move themember 86 into the path of a cam-operated finger 81 which iscontinuously operating; finger 81 is driven from the drive shaft 82 andits extensions, whereby the finger 81, while in its inner position(lower than its Fig. 1 position) engages under the projecting portion ofmember 89 and finger 81 being then moved outwardly (upwardly in Fig. 1)

by the cam, carries with it the member to the limit of its movement,determined by its slotted conn ction with pin 79. This movement of membr 80 (upwardly in Fig. 1) operates the bell crank lever system 8011, 80c80b connected to member 88, and moves into clutch-engaging position themovable member of the clutch which is secured to the bell crank to whichmember 86 is connected. As this clutch is designed to operate for aninterval of time corresponding to a complete rotation of the drivenshaft 83, there is provided thereon, by means of the driven gear wheel84 and. a cam face 85, a means to disengage the clutch at apredetermined point in its revolution; when the cam 85, engaging one endof the sliding member 53, returns it to the position shown in Fig. 1,the pin 52 is engaged by both the trip 51 and the latch '78; thismovement returns the sliding member 80 out of the path of the finger 81and moves the sliding member 88 into the path of the finger 81, whichengages under the projecting portion of member 86 and, under theinfluence of its cam, moves outwardly (upwardly in Fig. l), carryingmember 86 with it and thereby moving the bell crank system to whichmember 86 is connected to disengage the clutch at this predeterminedpoint.

This clutch operating mechanism is generally similar in construction andmode of operation to the mechanism which forms the subjectmatter of acopnding application of Henry Nepple, Serial No. 570,636, filed October23, 1931.

As recited in the statement of invention, the control meter C is of acharacter required by the Post Ofiice Department for this work, whereinthe meter may be set with a prede- The termined monetary amount whichmay corre: spond to the amount of postage purchased by a consumer andwhich, upon the exhaustion of the set amount of postage, will operate tolock the machine against further operation until this meter has againbeen set. This meter has no direct connection with the progressiverelease lock in its normal functioning and is completely disclosed in a(to-pending application. However, through its function of locking theentire machine, it bears a similar relation to the operations of theprogressive release lock, and to that end the locking operation will bedescribed.

Referring to Fig. 1 it will be seen that the highest monetary numeralwheel of the meter wheel train, namely, the meter wheel 8'7, is providedon one side with a cam face 88, which, upon exhaustion of the amountpre-set in the meter, is moved into contact with the trip 89, which itmoves in a lateral direction, thus releasing the drive bar 0 andallowing it to drop; when bar 90 drops the foot 91 comes into the pathof the cam 92 secured to a rock shaft 93; this rock shaft 83 is operatedat the conclusion of a printing operation to effect a locking operationat the completion of a printing operation, at which time the stamp inprocess of being printed will have been discharged upon the plateprovided for that purpose (not shown) the entire machine will then havebeen cleared, leaving the entire machine in preparation for the nextprinting operation upon the re-se'tting of the meter C and theconsequent unlocking of the.

machine for normal operation. The drive bar 90 operates an electricswitch (not shown); when the locking operation takes place theelectrical switch is operated to open the motor circuit and stop themotor, thus preventing the operation of the machine by motive power. Thedrive bar 90 also actuates means (not shown) for preventing rotation or"the drive shaft 83 and drive mechanism of the machine in one direction,the drive shaft 83 being provided with a nonreverse element, (notshown), which normally prevents operation of the drive mechanism in anopposite directionj thus the drive shaft 83 is positively locked againstrotation in ei her direction.

The movement originating in the keyboard A and transmitted through thekey bars 3 to the selector E is carried through to the other portions ofthe machine by means of a selector arm 97, which is designed toprogressively move laterally to occupy six different successive contactpositions to selectively contact and actuate bars, (not shown), of thenumeral printer, (not shown) three of the bars, controlling the monetaryvalue printing wheels, have extensions, namely, the bars 98, 99 and 100(Figs. 1 and 2), which connect through gearing elements 101 to actuatethe three elevators 102, 103, 104 and give the stepped portions 105 amovement corresponding to the number of the key operated on the keyboardA to bring the proper numbered step directly beneath the rack bar 106(Fig. 2); this position of each of these rack bars constitutes amechanical equivalent of one of the keys as punched in on the keyboardA. This operation comprises the setting up of the numbers within themachine in the setup mechanism D; actuation of this same mechanism toforward these mechanical equivalent numbers for registration in themeters is accomplished by a driven shaft 107 connected indirectly to thedrive shaft 83; during a printing operation a set of cams on shaft 18-7(of which one cam 103 is shown in Fig. 2), move the elevator elements veically, whereupon the step that happens to be situated beneath the rackbar 166 contacts that rack bar 1. to ti o particular ste; thercund sothat by means of the gearing the connected shaft 110, the figures areregistered within the meter.

A direct connected set of numeral wheels 111 which indicate to theoperator, by a visual reading, the monetary value set up in a set-up mecanism D; these wheels are returned to s ro position upon the clearingaction of the machine.

The clearing action of the machine, by operation of the rock shaft 12also returns the selector E to the original position (shown in Figs. 1and 2); for that purpose a hook member 112 secured to the rock shaft 12engages a portion of the selector E to return it to original position.ihe selector E controlled in its lateral movement for proper placementby means of a toothed escapement element 113 provided thereon, er forthe escape-merit of one teeth at a time, thus providing the step by stepprogression of the selector E.

I claim:

1. A device of the character described comprising a keyboard having keysand key-bars associated therewih, a lock releasing means, a controlmember engageable with said lock-releasing means for movinglock-releasing means, means engageable by said kcybars for progressivelymoving said control. member, said contr member by actuation of one ormore of said keys a predetermined total number of times moving saidloclereleasing means to lock-relear ing position.

A device of the character described com prising a keyboard having keysand keybars associated therewith, a rotative member, means engageable bysaid keybars for rotating said rotative member upon actuation of saidkeys, a lock-releasing and means carried by said rotative memberengaging said lock-releasing means for movin said lock-releasing meansto lock-releasing position by a predetermined rotation of said rotativemember produced by a predetermined number of key-actuations.

3. In a machine of the character described, a keyboard having keys andkeybars associated therewith, means for locking the machine againstoperation, means for releasing said looking means, a rotatable member,means engageable by said keybars and operative to rotate said rotatablemember a predetermined degree upon each actuation of a keybar, and meanson said rotatable member for engaging and actuating said lock-releasingmeans by a predetermined number of key-actuations of the same ordinerent keys.

4. In a machine of the character described, a keyboard having keys andkeybars asociated therewith, a locking member for preventing operationof the machine until a predetermined number of key-actuations have beenefiected, means for releasing said locking means, a rotatable member, amember engageable by said keybars and connected with said rotatablemember to rotate said rotatable member step by step upon actuation ofsaid keybars, and means on said rotatable member engaging saidlockreleasing means and for moving said lock-releasing means tolock-releasing position upon actuation of said keybars a predeterminedtotal number or" times.

associ a keyboard having and keybars venting ated therewith, a lockingmember for p; operation of the machine until a prede ernined number ofkey-actuations i been eilected, means for releasing said locking means,a rotatable member, a member engageable by said keybarsand connectedwith said rotatable mem- 31 ber to rotate said rotatable member step bystep upon actuation of keybars, means on said rotatable member engagingsaid lock-releasing means and for moving said lock-releasing means tolock-releasing position upon actuation of said keybars a predeterminedtotal num ber of times, a re-set key on said keyboard, means operable bysaid re-set key for re-setting said rotatable member to initialposition, and spring means for restoring lock-releasing 9 means toinitial position preventing operation of the machine.

6. In a machine of the character described, a plurality of keys havingkeybars, locking means normally preventing operation of the machine, aslidable member for releasing said locking means, a ratchet wheel, apawl engaging said ratchet wheel, a rock bar associated with androckably engageable by each of keybars upon actuation thereof,connections bej tween said rock and said pawl for rotating said ratchetwheel step by step successive ctuation of one or more of said keybars,and a pin fixed to said ratchet wheel for enga ng said slidable memberand for moving said sl;dabis member to lock-releasing position upon apredete'mined total number of key-actuations.

'7. In a machine or" the character described, a plurality of keys havingkeybars, locking means normally preventing operation of the machine, aslidable member for releasing said locking means, a ratchet wheel, apawl engaging said ratchet wheel, a rock bar associated with androckably engageable by each of said keybars upon actuation thereof,connections between said rock bar and said pawl for rotating saidratchet wheel step by step by successive actuation of one or more ofkeybars, a pin fixed to said ratchet wheel for engaging said slidablemember and for moving said slidable member to lock-releasing positionupon a predetermined number of key actuations of the same or differentkeys, a restoring key, and operative connections between said restoringkey and said ratchet wheel for rotating said ratchet wheel in theopposite direction to *estore said M slidable member to initialposition.

8. In a device of the character described, a keyboard having a pluralityof keys and keybars associated therewith, a lock-releasing means, arotatable member, a rigid bar adjacent to and engageable by each of saidkeybars and adapted to be moved by actuation of said keybars, meansoperatively connecting said bar and said rotatable member for rotatingsaid rotatable member a predetermined degree upon each actuation of akeybar and means carried by said rotatable member for engaging andactuating said lock-releasing means upon a predetermined number ofmovements of said bar by actuations of said keybars.

9. In a device of the character described, a keyboard having a pluralityof keys and keybars associated therewith, a lock-releasing member, arotatable member, a rigid osoillatable bar disof said keybars, and meanson said rotatable V member for engaging and actuating said lockreleasing member upon the oscillation of said bar a predetermined numberof times by successive key-actuations of the same or different keys.

WILLIAM J. PEARSON.

